Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; November 26, 2018)

He is a commercial pilot-turned-actor, who quit the aviation industry to pursue a career in the movies. Hailing from Jaipur, actor Anirudh Tanwar struggled for almost five years before he landed a role in the upcoming film Rajma Chawal, directed by Leena Yadav. In a candid chat with BT, he shares how he wants his journey as an actor to continue. Anirudh also admits that he wants to be known as a good actor and is not gunning for stardom. Excerpts...

Did you harbour dreams of being an actor since childhood?
I am born and raised in Jaipur. When I was in school, my father asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said I wanted to be an actor. He didn’t discourage me. But growing up in Rajasthan, I realised that nobody really looked forward to somebody becoming an actor and also, there weren’t many avenues to pursue the same. Then, I became a pilot and started working, but I was keen on taking that leap of faith to pursue acting. I eventually quit everything and decided to shift base to Mumbai in 2012. Since then, I have been trying to get a break. I assisted on films and also managed production work. I joined Barry John’s acting classes. I did workshops with graduates from the National School of Drama. I pursued street theatre in Banaras and also went to Lee Strasberg in New York to train. There was a film, which was supposed to happen, but it did not and I returned to Mumbai.

Since 2013 till the time Rajma Chawal was shot and completed, as an actor, it was a tough period for me. The insecurity of having sacrificed everything in order to pursue a career in the movies did play on my mind. Now that my film is complete and is releasing, I feel that period was not tough, but a rite of passage. Also, as a child, I was painfully shy, but when I would act on stage, I would come alive. I was also charmed by cinema. In fact, when I shifted to Mumbai and would watch stage plays, I was keen on being an actor on stage as well. Acting for me is a liberating experience.

After struggling to find a foothold in the industry, you finally landed the lead role in Rajma Chawal. How did that happen?
I assisted filmmaker Leena Yadav as part of the production team for the film Parched. She was also aware that I wanted to be an actor. After wrapping up the film, she called me a few months later and told me about Rajma Chawal and how it revolved around the relationship between a father and son. She told me that the film is not a typical launch pad, but that I would be perfect for the role. I was skeptical about Rishi (Kapoor) sir agreeing to act alongside a newcomer, but those were my own insecurities. He came on board because he liked the script a lot.

What, according to you, is the ideal launch pad? Even though Leena Yadav told you that Rajma Chawal is not a typical film that is designed for a Bollywood launch, did you believe otherwise?
Frankly, I think Rajma Chawal is the ideal launch pad for me. For many others, this film might not come across as a launch vehicle because it doesn’t have a larger-than-life quality about it, which is almost a prerequisite for a debut in Bollywood. I relate to cinema that is real. This film is a drama that addresses concepts like family values. Also, I was thrilled that I got to share screen space with Rishi Kapoor.

Every year, the industry witnesses new actors trying to make a mark. However, only a few manage to make an impact and also sustain a career. Isn’t it difficult to break through the clutter?
I think it’s a huge challenge, but what I do hope is that my journey as an actor continues. When an actor ventures into the industry, the first challenge is to simply get work. I want to first grow as an actor. I will be happy even if only 10 people recognise me, but I want them to appreciate me as a good actor. I aspire to be an actor more than being a star. I will die of embarrassment if somebody were to say that I am a star, but I don’t know how to act.

Your father is also one of the producers of the film. Didn’t you want to be in a film which didn’t have your father backing it?
My father started producing films after I moved to Mumbai. In fact, I was constantly asked if he is producing films, why isn’t he producing mine. My father was the opinion that I need to find my own way and that he wouldn’t want to bankroll a film for me. We had different producers when the film was kicked off. However, at that time it was a small film. But when my father heard the story from Leena, both of them wanted to take it to the next level. That’s when he agreed to come on board as one of the co-producers.

BOMBAY TIMES (June 17, 2018)

Director Leena Yadav’s next, Rajma Chawal, looks at a very contemporary issue — social media and its impact on our relationships. The story revolves around the quirky equation a father and son share in the virtual world. While Rishi Kapoor plays the father, the son’s character is essayed by debutant Anirudh Tanwar.

So, it’s only apt that this Father’s Day, the senior actor is eager to introduce his reel son, all set to take baby steps in the industry, to the world.

Rishi Kapoor says, “I have played all generations in reel and real life — grandson, son, father and grandfather — and each relationship has taught me something. This Father’s Day, I am introducing the main member from my Rajma Chawal family — my onscreen son, Anirudh Tanwar. This film has been an interesting journey for all of us and we had a blast cooking it. I hope that the audience, too, enjoys consuming it. The story is relevant, as it talks about bringing a father-son together using social media in the most unique, fun and colourful manner. This film also will take you on a beautiful ride through the amazing Chandni Chowk, bringing new flavours to your palette.”

Needless to say, Leena Yadav is excited about the camaraderie her on-screen papa-beta share. She says, “As a director, watching Rishi sir mentor Anirudh was a great experience for me. I would often observe him generously teaching Anirudh the tricks of the trade, and that enriched their on-screen chemistry. I could not have asked for a better father-son duo for our film, which explores a complex relationship through a funny and heartwarming lens.”

While the movie is quintessentially a dad-son story, it also has Amyra Dastur in a pivotal role.

Rajma Chawal, presented by SaarthiE and produced by Capt Gulab Singh Tanwar, Leena Yadav and Aseem Bajaj, releases on August 31.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 9, 2018)

Rishi Kapoor may be one of the most prolific celebrity tweeters with a staggering figure of three million followers but for his next, the 65-year-old actor had to unlearn all the tech tricks acquired over the years. Mirror has learnt that in Leena Yadav’s next, Rajma Chawal, he plays a patriarch who, with the help of his son (played by Anirudh Tanwar), is trying to catch up with technology.

According to Leena, despite the contrast between him and the character, Rishi identified with it. “We’re facing this with all our parents — they have either become overactive on the social media or want to be as they have now realised that communication has shifted in this direction and that’s the only way to bridge the generation gap. When Rishi ji heard the story of a father and son who don’t talk much, he said, ‘I was a similar father, who finds it difficult to share his thoughts with his son.’ Food is also an integral part of the story so for many reasons there couldn’t be a better choice than Rishi ji for the part,” Leena says. Sharing memories from the shoot, the filmmaker adds, “We had lots of fun shooting at Chandni Chowk; food became a big part of our lives. Rishi ji had informed us on the first day itself that he instead of riding a bike through the narrow lanes he’d prefer walking. He would stop at every shop and inquire what they were cooking. By the second day it had become normal for the locals to watch Rishi Kapoor walk by.”

Speaking of how the character came about, Leena reveals that it is a sum of the film’s three writers’ experiences with their parents. “That’s also how we landed up with the film’s title — it cuts across generations and is timeless,” she explains. On the father-son dynamic, she says, “They look like they’re always on the brink of a war, but all the son wants is his father’s approval. In this film, the father learns to get on the internet and ways to communicate with his son who is always looking into his mobile.”

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 27, 2017)

Leena Yadav’s next, Rajma Chawal, with Rishi Kapoor in the lead, rolls on November 7 in Delhi. Scheduled to be shot across the city in a start-to-finish schedule, the story of a father-son duo is expected to wrap up by December-end and deals with generation gap-related conflicts. Debutant actor Anirudh Tanwar plays Kapoor’s son.

“The idea behind the film is to illustrate how everything happens over the mobile today. People would rather catch up over a chat than have a proper conversation and this affects parent-children relationships. Parents are struggling to cope with technological advancements and Rishi Kapoor portrays the many shades of a father, from funny to intense. Anirudh has trained at Lee Strasberg theatre and film institute and is a perfect fit. I’ve wanted to work with him since a long time,” Leena informed.

Amyra Dastur helps the father-son overcome their differences and rajma-chawal plays an important part in the narrative as Indians are emotionally connected with food. “Whenever I talk about rajma-chawal, it evokes a smile as people are reminded of home. There couldn’t have been a more perfect title for a father-son relationship.”